Recruitment Services
Framework Description
KCS Procurement Services' Recruitment Services framework is a national agreement running until 31 August 2029. Its three lots cover permanent and contract recruitment; temporary, interim and contract recruitment; and retained or executive recruitment, across many disciplines. Not a DPS, it lets buyers award work directly or through further competition among appointed suppliers.
Context & Use Case
Councils, NHS trusts, education providers and emergency services use it to fill roles across administration, accounting, construction, education, engineering, finance, healthcare, legal, IT and social care. Typical needs include covering hard-to-fill social care posts, appointing interim managers during restructures and running executive searches for senior leadership roles. Lot 3 is used for retained searches where discretion and a strong shortlist matter.
Scope of Services
Lot 1: Permanent and Contract Recruitment Lot 2: Temporary, Interim and Contract Recruitment Lot 3: Retained/Executive Recruitment Disciplines from administration to specialist technical and healthcare roles
Lots
Lot 1: Permanent and Contract Recruitment; Lot 2: Temporary, Interim and Contract Recruitment; Lot 3: Retained/Executive Recruitment
Who Can Apply
Recruitment agencies, interim providers and executive search firms with REC/APSCo membership or equivalent, IR35 and worker status compliance and suitable insurance. Applications for this framework are closed, so firms not appointed cannot join until KCS re-tenders, likely around 31 August 2029.
Buyer Benefits
Buyers get agencies already checked for compliance with employment and worker status rules, which reduces risk. Direct award helps fill urgent vacancies quickly, while further competition suits executive searches or larger volume campaigns where fees and candidate quality matter. Agreed framework terms also make agency spend easier to control.
Next Steps
Appointed agencies should make sure HR teams know their specialisms, fill rates and fees, and be ready for further competitions on senior or volume campaigns. Others can explore second-tier supply with appointed agencies and should prepare compliance evidence and public sector placement data for the re-tender expected before 31 August 2029.
How Athena Can Help
Recruitment call-offs are often won on candidate quality, speed and fees. Athena's recruitment bid writing shows your fill rates, sector knowledge and compliance clearly, with fee structures that win.
For agencies not appointed, our staffing framework applications service finds other recruitment frameworks open now, and our public sector bid planning helps prepare your submission for KCS's next re-tender. We also prepare policies and compliance evidence so your application is complete first time.
